Daryl Gurney has delivered a blunt assessment of his World Cup of Darts-winning teammate Josh Rock's Premier League struggles, urging the Northern Irishman to adopt a nastier mentality to turn his form around. Speaking to Tungsten Tales from the Poland Darts Open in Krakow, Gurney revealed he has been giving Rock private advice but emphasized that Rock "deserves to be in the Premier League" despite not yet showing his full potential. Gurney pointed to Rock's narrow 102-average loss in the first week as evidence of "small margins" costing him.
Gurney's core critique centers on Rock's demeanor. "Sometimes Josh is just too nice," Gurney stated. "He needs to get into his own zone and think, 'Everyone's here to beat me,' not the other way around." With Premier League night in Belfast approaching, Gurney stressed the unforgiving nature of the competition, calling it "a different animal now." He reflected on his own experiences playing in Belfast, describing it as "like a World Championship final" and recalling a victory over Rob Cross shortly after Cross became world champion, though he lost a rematch the following year while battling arm pain.
The two-time major winner believes Rock must match that intensity. "To play in Belfast, they'd need four darts to beat me. That's how I'd feel," Gurney said. "Unless Josh approaches it like that, he could get found out again." Rock faces Gian van Veen in the Belfast quarter-finals, and Gurney vowed to be there supporting him, adding, "I'll give him a shake if he needs it."
Gurney also discussed his own season, expressing growing confidence. When asked if he felt pressure during a host nation qualifier in Poland, he replied, "Honestly, if my confidence was low, I'd say yes. But my confidence has been building this year." He noted having "one or two bad days" but generally feeling competitive, and said that even on a recent stage, once settled, "I felt like I had plenty of gears left." His long-term aim is clear: "At the end of the day, I want to be playing in all the majors this year."
Finally, Gurney shared positive impressions of Poland, calling Krakow "a lovely city" with "beautiful buildings" and expressing his love for touring new countries like Poland, France, and Italy. With a smile, he contrasted a trip to the Canaries for heat with Poland's cold, quipping, "if that's what they want, that's what they want!"
